Each small task of everyday life is part of the total harmony of the universe.
Therese Of LisieuxRead
My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words, I know it by experience.
Interpretation
Prayer and sacrifice are powerful tools for changing hearts and influencing others.
In this quote, Therese of Lisieux expresses the belief that genuine compassion, demonstrated through prayer and selflessness, holds immense power. She emphasizes that these spiritual practices surpass mere words in their ability to affect the hearts of others, drawing from her own experiences to advocate for their transformative efficacy in relationships and personal connections.
In practice
During a community meeting about charity work, one might share this quote to inspire volunteers.
Each small task of everyday life is part of the total harmony of the universe.
I prefer to be accused unjustly, for then I have nothing to reproach myself with, and joyfully offer this to the good Lord. Then I humble myself at the thought that I am indeed capable of doing the thing of which I have been accused.
You heard me, only Friend whom I love. To ravish my heart, you became man. You shed your blood, what a supreme mystery!... And you still live for me on the Altar. If I cannot see the brilliance of your Face Or hear your sweet voice, O my God, I can live by your grace, I can rest on your Sacred Heart!
Holiness is a disposition of the heart that makes us humble and little in the arms of God, aware of our weakness, and confident - in the most audacious way - in His Fatherly goodness.
The guest of our soul knows our misery; He comes to find an empty tent within us - that is all He asks.
Everything is a grace, everything is the direct effect of our Father's love - difficulties, contradictions, humiliations, all the soul's miseries, her burdens, her needs - everything, because through them, she learns humility, realizes her weakness. Everything is a grace because everything is God's gift. Whatever be the character of life or its unexpected events - to the heart that loves, all is well.
It seems to me then as if all the moments of our life occupy the same space, as if future events already existed and were only waiting for us to find our way to them at last, just as when we have accepted an invitation we duly arrive in a certain house at a given time.
All failures - neurotics, psychotics, criminals, drunkards, problem children, suicides, perverts, and prostitutes - are failures because they are lacking in social interest
God doesn't ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful. However beautiful our work may be, let us not become attached to it. Always remain prepared to give it up, without losing your peace.
It was like letting go and falling back into water and seeing yourself grinning up through the water, your face like a mask, and seeing the bubbles coming up as if you were trying to speak from under the water. And how do you know what it's like to try to speak from under water when you're drowned?
History is a people's memory, and without a memory, man is demoted to the lower animals.
If we all think only of our own interests, we are headed for collective disaster - just look at what we are doing to our planet's climate.
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